Healthy Orange Tofu

COPYCAT PANDA EXPRESS ORANGE CHICKEN. made healthy.

Crispy, oven baked tofu tossed in a thick, sticky, citrus sauce made from a handful of healthy ingredients. This homemade Orange Tofu recipe is inspired by the popular Panda Express dish, but doesn’t compromise your health goals. My copycat version is a lighter and healthier alternative for both vegans and those looking for healthy dinner options for the entire family. Ready in under an hour, this better than takeout Orange Tofu makes eating healthy a breeze.

How to Make Healthy Orange Tofu:​

Orange Tofu Ingredients:​

Growing up, I was addicted to Panda Express’s Orange Chicken. In 2022, Panda Express made my dreams come true by adding a plant-based version to their menu utilizing Beyond Chicken. Fast forward a year to Panda Express having removed the delicious tangy dish from their menu, despite it’s popularity! But fear not, my copycat recipe has all the same sweet and savory flavors you love while prioritizing simple, healthy ingredients. Now, I like mine better than the original!

Here are all of the ingredients used in this healthy Orange Tofu recipe:

• High Protein Tofu.
• Tamari.
• Oranges.
• Ginger.
• Garlic.
• Vegetable Broth.
• Rice Vinegar.
• Sherry Vinegar.
• Corn Starch.
• Coconut Sugar.

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Helpful Tips for Making the Best Orange Tofu:

Tofu is an important staple in any plant-based diet. Once you master it, you will witness it’s magical shapeshifting ability to transform into whatever you want it to be – chicken, beef, eggs, fish fillet, the list goes on! Here are some tips to make the absolute best orange tofu possible:

• To get the best result, use high protein tofu, aka super firm tofu. Not only does it pack in more protein than softer tofus, it really takes on the texture of chicken.
• Rather than cube your tofu with a knife, use your hands to break it into chunks. It’ll add more dimension and better resemble chicken.
• For ultra crispy tofu, air fry it. I made mine in Our Place’s WONDER OVEN and it came out perfectly crispy. Though the oven does produce a crispy tofu as well!

Confused? Here are some frequently asked questions:

1. Is Orange Tofu high in protein?

Yes! Make sure to use high protein (aka super firm) tofu to get as much protein as possible. This recipe makes 4 smaller portions or 2 medium/larger portions. If your priority is protein, go for the larger portion which packs in 40+ grams of protein.

2. Is Orange Tofu safe for kids?

This recipe is healthy for the entire family! Tofu is a complete protein meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. Of course this recipe isn’t safe for babies or young toddlers as it has a lot of flavor, but it is totally okay for kids.

3. Who invented Orange Chicken?

Believe it or not, orange chicken was invented by Panda Express! After a trip to Hawaii, the founder had the idea to fuse orange citrus flavors with an American favorite, fried chicken. Though, it is quite similar to General Tso’s chicken which is a Taiwanese dish.

{If you like this recipe you’ll love my MISO GLAZED EGGPLANT and my KIMCHI STEAMED VEGGIE RICE.}